Electrode holder



May l, 1945. F. J. MALNAR ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Oct. l, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TOE/VEYS F. J. MALNAR ELECTRODE HOLDER May I l, 1945.

Filed Oct. l, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FEA affffflfft Patented May-l, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELEc'rRoDE HOLDER Frank J. Malnar, Euclid, Ohio Application october 1, 1942, serial No. 460,365

` (ci. 21a-s) 10 Claims.

Thisvlnvention relates generally to the art of electric welding and more particularly to a new and improved electrode holder.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, one form of holder embodying the present invention and showing the manner oi placing an electrode in and removing it from the holder;

Figure 2 is an end view of the device of Fig. 1 the electrode of that figure being omitted;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, partly in section, showing another embodimentl of the present invention;

Figures 4 and 5 are, respectively, an end view and a cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of the device shown in Fig. 3;

Figures 6 and 7 are, respectively, a longitudinal, central cross-sectional view and an end-view of another embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 8 and 9 are, respectively, side elevational and end views of another modified embodi ment of the invention.

Figures 10 and 11 are, respectively, a side elevational view, partly in section, and an end view of another modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, partly in section, of another embodiment of the invention; and,

Figure 13 is an end view of the device of Figure 12.

The electrode holder shown in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of `a hollow, electrically non-conducting handle I, which is rectangular in cross-section and in one end of which is disposed a hollow metal member 2 which is rectangular in crosssection and has a fairly close fit against the inner surfaces of handle I. A cable 3, from a source of suitable welding current, is attached to metal member 2 in any convenient manner, as by bolt 4 and nut 5, the head of the bolt 4 being surrounded by a bushing 6' of electrical insulating material which can be attached to the head of bolt 4 as by a pin 6a passing thru a hole in the bolthead. This bushing prevents arcing between the head of the bolt i4 and any other outside metal member.

The metal member 2 supports a plurality of metal rods l secured thereto at the ends, as by welding. These rods project in parallelism beyond the ends of the handle I and member 2 and are arranged triangularly, that is, at the corners of an imaginary triangle, and are spaced apart from each other. When an electrode is assembled with these rods with one rod on one side of the electrode and two rods on the other side thereof, the electrode springs the rods apart and the rods exert suiiicient spring tension on the electrode to retain it in any position desired by the Welder.

Fig. 1 shows the electrode 8 in full line position when the device is ready for welding and also shows, in the dotted line position, the first step of assembling an electrode with the rods l. To assemble the electrode with the rods the Welder places the electrode in substantially the dotted line position between two of the rods, and then uses the electrode to pry those rods apart far enough to permit the electrode to be swung into position between one of the rods and the third rod. Then the electrode may be adjusted to the 'desired angularity by swinging the electrode and will be held in that position by the spring tension of the rods. Similarly, the electrode'may be removed from the holder by swinging it so that it clears one of the two rods on one side thereof, whereupon it is released from the rods and may be removed. It will be noted that the insulation 9 on electrode 8 does not prevent contact of the electrode with all the rods l but on the contrary the bare electrode does contact at least one current-carrying rod l.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the handle is round and is preferably composed of wood or similar electrically non-conductive material. The handle I l is provided with an axial hole l2 extending from the rear end thereof to, and intersecting with, a diametrical hole I3. A cable It in axial hole I2 extends to hole I3 where it is secured by bolt I5 and nut I6 against the two elongated electrode holding rods ll. These rods extend from one side of hole I3 thru the end of the handle I and to a point some distance therebeyond. The third rod I'la extends from within the end of the handle and is held in position by any suitable means, as by pin I8, which extends thru the handle and rod Ila. A furrule i9 serves to prevent splitting of the handle.

An electrode may be assembled between rods I'l on one side and Ila on the other side in the same manner as has been described with respect to the device of Fig. 1. It will be noted that the bolt I5 requires no insulation to prevent arcing because it is housed within the confines of handle I and, therefore, cannot come into contact with any outside part.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the handle 2 I, the metal memloer 22, the cable 23, the bolt 24, nut 25 and insulating cap 26, and two electrode holding rods 21 are substantially like the corresponding parts in the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2. The third rod 21a, instead of being welded to member 22 as in Fig. i, is mounted on a pivot pin 2B and within member 22, is bent toward the center thereof as at 21h, and then outwardly to project thru aligned openings in members 2l and 22, finally terminating in portion 21e which may be engaged b'y the welders thumb. Within member 22 is disposed spring means engageable with portion 21h of rod 21a to pivot the rod about pin 28 and urge the outer end thereof toward rods 21 to grip an electrode therebetween. This spring means, as shown, comprises a leaf spring 29, which is seated at its sides in opposite corners of member 22 and may be welded in place. This spring member 29 has a forward portion 29a shaped to bear against the bent portion 21b of rod 21a and coil spring 30 is compressed between this portion 29a and the adjacent inner surface of member 22. Spring means 29 and 30 thus serve to pivot the rod 21a about pin 28, urging the outer end thereof towards rods 21 and the portion 21o away from the handle 2 I. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the spring- 30 may be dispensed with if desired, and also that the body portion of member 29 may be omitted if desired.

In Figs. 8 and 9 is shown a slight modification of the device of Figs. 1 and 2. In Figs. 8 and 9 the metal member 2 has four rods 1 welded in the inside corners thereof and any three of these four rectangularly positioned rods 1 may be used to -grip an electrode after the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and described hereinabove. With four rods 1 the electrode may be assembled in more different positions than is the case when only three rods are present.

In Figs. 10 and ll is shown a further modification of the device of Figs. l and 2. In Figs. 10 and 11 the straight single rods 1 of Figs. l and 2 have been replaced by longer rods which have been' bent into U-shape with the U portions being disposed in member 2 and welded thereto. As shown in Figs. 10 and 1l, one of these U-shaped members, 31, is disposed in a plane at right angles to the other one.

In Figs. 12 and 13 hollow handle @I is round and contains a round metal member i2 which is vattached to a cable 3 .fby bolt and nut 5, the head of the latter being provided with an insulating sleeve 6 held in place by pin Ga extending thru the sleeve and bolthead. The rods i1 are welded to the inner surface of member 22 and are arranged more or less rectangularly so that any three of the rods may be used to grip an electrode after the manner hereinabove described.

It will be obvious that any of the hollow metal members 2 and 42 may be made solid at their rod carrying ends and recesses may be provided on their outer surfaces in which the electrode holding rods may be placed and attached either by welding or in any other suitable manner.

While the electrode holding members of the several herein described embodiments of the invention are shown as being circular in cross-section, it will be understood that they may have diiferent cross-sectional shapes. These rods may be triangular, rectangular or polygonal in crosssection.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that electrode holders embodying the present invention are simple in construction, and afford an efficient, positive means for holding-an electrode which may be quickly and easily assembled therewith or disassembled therefrom.

Altho several different modifications of the present invention may have been shown and described herein, many others may be made. Accordingly, I do not limit my invention to the modifications specifically described but, on the contrary, include all modifications whichf, fall within the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention so that others skilled in the art may be alble to understand and practice the same, I state that what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is defined in what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrode holder comprising a plurality of parallel metal rods supported at one end, said rods being spaced apart from each other thruout their full lengths and so arranged that an electrode may be held between two of said rods on one side thereof and one rod on the other side thereof by spring pressure, and means for conducting electric current to at least one of said rods.

2. An electrode holder comprising a hollow, electrically non-conductive handle, a plurality of metal rods mounted at one end of said handle and projecting in parallelism therebeyond, said rods being spaced apart from each other thruout their lengths and being so arranged that an electrode may be held between two of said rods on one side thereof and one of said rods on the other side thereby by spring tension of the rods, and means within said handle for conducting electric current to at least one of said rods.

3. An electrode holder, including a hollow, electrically non-conductive handle, a metal member in said handle and to which a source of electric current may be connected, a plurality of metal rods secured to said member near one end thereof and projecting in parallelism beyond the ends of said handle and member, said rods being spaced apart from each other thruout their lengths and being so arranged that an electrode may be held between two of said rods on one side thereof and one of said rods on the other side thereof by spring tension of the rods.

4. An electrode holder, including a hollow, electrically non-conductive handle, a metal member in said handle and to which a source of electric current may be connected, at least three metal rods having their ends secured to said member near one end thereof and projecting in parallelism beyond the ends of said handle and member, said rods being spaced apart from each other and arranged triangularly so that an electrode may be held between two of said rods on one side thereof and one of said rods on the other side thereof by spring tension of the rods.

- 5. An electrode holder, 'including a hollow, electrically non-conductive handle, a metal member in said handle and to which a source of electric current may be connected, four metal rods having their ends secured to said member near one end thereof and projecting in parallelism beyond the ends of said handle and member, said rods being spaced apart from each other and arranged rectangularly so that an electrode may be held between two of said rods on one side thereof and one of said rods on the other side thereof by spring tension of the rods.

6. An electrode holder, including a hollow,

electrically non-conductive handle, a hollow metal member housed within said handle and to the inner surface of which a source of electric current may be connected, a plurality of metal rods having their ends secured to the inner surface of said member near one end thereof and projecting beyond the ends of said handle and member, said rods being spaced apart from each other thruout their lengths and being so arranged that an electrode may be held between two of said rods on one side thereof and one el said rods on the other side thereof by spring tension of said rods.

7. An electrode holder, including a hollow, electrically non-conductive handle round in cross-section, a hollow metal member round in cross-section in said handle and to the inner surface of which a source of electric current may be connected, a plurality oi metal rods harinar "inner surface of which a source oi electric oura rent may be connected, a plurality of metal rods having their ends secured to the inner surface corners oi said member near one end thereof and projecting her/ond. the ends oi said handle and member, said rods being spaced apart irene each other thruout their lengths and so arranged that an electrode 'may he held between two of said rods on one side thereof and one oi said rods on the other side thereof hy spring tension oi said rods.

9. An electrode holder comprising a hollow, electrically non-conductive handle, a' plurality of metal rods mounted out of contact with each other at one end of said handle andp'rojecting in parallelism therebeyond, one oi saiddrods being mounted for pivotal movement, said pit'oted rod being bent toward the center oi said handle and then projecting laterally thru the wall thereof, spring rneans within said handle for urging the free end of said pivoted rod toward the other, fined rods, and means within the handle for conducting electric current to at least one o said :dried rods.

l0. An electrode holder comprising 'a tubular handle of insulating material; a conductor extendine: into one end o said handle; a cluster of not less than three closely grouped and independently flexible metallic spring rdds; a rnetallic socket member within which ene end of each or said rods is rigidly secured, said socket member heine* rigidly lined in position within the opposite end ai said handle with said cluster axially alined and parallel with the anis oi said handle, and means electricalh7 connecti g said conductor and said socket niemeer, the outer tree end portions ci said rods heini, adapted to receive between there and te grip an electrode inu termediate the ends of the latter. 

